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Press Release

Harrison County, WV man guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of West Virginia

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Following a three day trial, a jury found convicted felon Joseph Garrett, 50, of Haywood, West Virginia, guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.

Garrett was previously convicted of multiple offenses in the Circuit Court of Marion County, West Virginia, including “Breaking and Entering” in 1983, “Sexual Assault in the Third Degree” in 1988, and “Second Degree Murder” in 1998. As a result of these convictions, Garrett is prohibited from possessing firearms.

Evidence presented at trial revealed that in May 2014, Garrett was in unlawful possession of a 12 gauge shotgun in Harrison County, West Virginia.

The jury found Garrett guilty of one count of “Felon in Possession of Firearm,” for which he faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00. The jury also found Garrett guilty of one count of “Possession of a NFA Firearm Not Registered to a Person in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record,” for which he faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.00. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
 
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Morgan prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation.

U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.

Updated January 8, 2016